Agartala (Tripura), June 30: It was an exceptional day – a day that ushered a period of sufferings, it was June 25 in 1975 – and people of India witnessed beginning of ‘Black Days’ – the National Emergency – under the pretext of ‘threats from internal disturbance’.
As the painful chapter of Indian democracy is turning grey, especially to GenX, elaborate discussions have been underway since June 25, 2025 in Tripura, highlighting the persons involved and incidents that led to the beginning of the Black Days.
Dr Manik Saha, the Chief Minister of Tripura, presented a detailed description on Monday (June 30), narrating the happenings leading to the emergency.
“Emergency wasn’t just a political decision—it was a direct assault on the Constitution and democracy. Many innocent people suffered during this dark phase, and it is important that we never forget their struggles,” he said.
It all started on declaration of LS Poll results on March 10 in 1971, he said and added, Indira Gandhi was declared winner from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh defeating, Raj Narain (a Samyukta Socialist Party Candidate). However, Raj Narain could not accept the result and moved Allahabad Court challenging the poll result.
Narain raised multiple allegations against Gandhi – however, two complaints considered by the Court to be crucial – involvement of government machinery ensuing Gandhi’s victory and appointment of a gazette officer (Yashpal Kapoor) as her election agent, Dr Saha said and added, “based on these two complaints, Justice Jagmohan Lal Sinha of the Allahabad Court declared the election as null and void on June 12, 1971,”. The Court also barred her from holding public office for 6 years.
Indira Gandhi moved the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court verdict and vacation Judge, Justice VR Krishna Iyer grant temporary relief ruling that she could remain Prime Minister but couldn’t vote or hold any government post, Dr Saha said while attending Mock Parliament event organized by the BJP Mahila Morcha in Agartala today.
The then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not sit idle, she summoned the then West Bengal Chief Minister Siddhartha Shakar Ray – a renowned barrister. Indira Gandhi discussed the matter with him.
Soon pressure was mounted on President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Emergency was declared in 1975,” said Dr Saha. Notably, National Emergency, imposed under the Article 352 of the Indian Constitution, continued till March 21, 1977.
Live: মহিলা মোর্চার উদ্যোগে আয়োজিত “ইমার্জেন্সি” এর কালো দিনের উপর “Mock Parliament” এ বক্তব্য রাখছি । https://t.co/Mf8CmhmNPZ
— Prof.(Dr.) Manik Saha (@DrManikSaha2) June 30, 2025
After discussing the backgrounds, Dr Saha shifted his talks on how people of Tripura suffered during the emergency period. Calling it a direct attack on the Constitution and murder of democracy, Dr Saha said, “In Tripura Sukhamoy Sengupta was the Chief Minister and we witness how the Congress Government used the dreaded Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) to harass commoners. Many people, including the journalists were arrested and anyone up against the emergency was promptly put behind the bars”.
Recalling those horrific days, Dr Saha said, “We saw what kind of situation was created”. Comparing present situation with that of the black days, the Chief Minister said, We are witnessing under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi what development is all about and how the Constitution is to protect.
“It was a direct attack on the Indian Constitution. We have seen how democracy was killed during the Congress regime. In Tripura, the then Chief Minister was Sukhamoy Sengupta and we saw how they used the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) in a wrongful way and arrested many people, starting from journalists.
We saw what kind of situation was created. Many houses were vandalised. Those who protested against Emergency were arrested, and even the press was attacked. Now we are seeing what development truly means. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working to protect the Constitution,” he added.
During the event, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, BJP general secretary Bhagaban Das, and BJP Mahila Morcha state president Mimi Majumder were present.
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After the discussion of Dr Saha, young attendees called it informative and insightful. According to one Sonali Debbarma, “We heard a lot about emergency. But we did not know exactly how it unfolded and who were persons involved like the name of vacation justice of the Supreme Court who allowed Gandhi to continue as MP but without voting power. These information are very important”.
